A Department for Health spokesman said: “As we set out in our manifesto, the Government remains committed to ensuring overseas visitors and migrants not eligible for NHS-funded care make a fair contribution.

“These will include making it a legal requirement that hospitals charge patients who are not eligible for free NHS treatment upfront and in full for any non urgent care.”

MPs on a cross party committee in February demanded hospitals charge foreign patients “upfront” unless the case was an emergency – claiming the government was failing to recoup millions.

PA:Press Association

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called for the plans to be drawn up in a bid to curb health tourism

A BBC documentary in the same month detailed the story of a Nigerian mother who had quadruplets in London after a stopover on a flight from Africa.